He inhaled deeply, breathing Nick in, stifling a moan as he ran his fingers through the silky, light golden-brown strands to hold his head in place. Killian had survived broken bones, gunshots, and stabbings. He had enough scars to prove he was a survivor. But in that moment, he closed his eyes as his greatest fear reared its ugly head.

Giving up this man or the promise that had finally brightened his dim world would be far more painful than death and leave a scar unlikely to heal in his lifetime.